Gene

microRNA

Alkaline phosphatase

Osteoblast

Cell biology

Biology

Mesenchymal stem cell

RUNX2

Biochemistry

HDAC4

Gene silencing

In vitro

Enzyme

Histone methyltransferase

Chemistry

Gene expression

Cellular differentiation

European review for medical and pharmacological sciences

Objective null To investigate the role of miR-29a in regulating the differentiation mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts. null Materials and methods null For the first step, the changes of expression of miR-29a during the process of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiation into osteoblast were detected. Then, we infected the MSCs with mimics or inhibitors of miR-29a to explore the roles of miR-29a in the differentiation. Further, the prediction and verification of the possible target genes of miR-29a were achieved by bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay. null Results null MiR-29a was up-regulated during the process of MSCs differentiation into osteoblasts. Overexpression or inhibition of miR-29a using mimics or inhibitors had no significant effect on cell proliferation. Furthermore, the differentiation was enhanced when miR-29a was artificially overexpressed in vitro, whereas silencing of miR-29a attenuated this process. It was evidenced by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, matrix mineralization, and increased expression of osteoblast-specific genes. Furthermore, we determined that the gene HDAC4 might be a direct target of miR-29a. null Conclusions null In the current study, miR-29a promotes osteogenesis via suppressing HDAC4, indicating that targeting miR-29a may be feasible in the management of osteoporosis.

MiR-29a promotes osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells via targeting HDAC4.